Ryan Stanton

The Chicago Blackhawks (25-7-5; 1st in league) will host the Vancouver Canucks (20-11-6; 7th in West) on Friday night at the United Center in Chicago. These two Western Conference rivals always provide entertaining hockey games.

Vancouver is on the second half of a back-to-back, having lost 4-1 to the Stars in Dallas last night; two of those Dallas goals came 15 seconds apart in the first five minutes.

It will be the Canucks third game in four nights. By contrast, the Blackhawks have had two days off since beating the Predators in Nashville on Tuesday night; Chicago will also have the weekend off before hosting the Devils on Monday.